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Brand-building in London
Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2013 11:32 am
by Mothman
There's an interesting p post about the Vikes upcoming trip to London and their motivations for participating in an international game on the NFC North blog at ESPN. here's a quote from it:
http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_ ... -in-london
Bagley dispelled the notion on Friday that the trip will be a financial windfall for the team, pointing out that the game is technically a NFL event, and the league will reimburse the team for its average revenue for one game this season. But the appeal of a trip like this, from a business perspective, stems more from the marketing opportunities than the direct cash the team will make from the game.
According to Bagley, the Vikings have sold more tickets than any team in the seven-year history of the NFL's International Series, and as the home team, they've produced a 10-episode series on Sky Sports (the British network that will air the game) introducing British fans to the team. It's tough for the Vikings to get much more popular in Minnesota, but if they have a chance to woo some fans in a new (and affluent) market, it could give them a boost -- especially heading into two years where they might see a dip in their revenues playing at TCF Bank Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus.
"It's an opportunity to expand our brand, and to provide a great experience for our fans," Bagley said, "and to be a team player for the NFL (by hosting a game in the series)."
Re: Brand-building in London
Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2013 12:18 pm
by The Breeze
I really like the idea of the Vikings conquering Britian, again.
It's cool that the team will be reimbursed for the game...but I wonder if all the metrodome employees will get some kind of stipend...like a vacation check or something. Seems to me those are the peeps who are most finacially dependant on the home games.
Still, I think the London game could become a decent advantage if the Vikes went 3 years in a row. I like that they are so popular there.
Re: Brand-building in London
Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2013 12:38 pm
by Mothman
The Breeze wrote:I really like the idea of the Vikings conquering Britian, again.
It's cool that the team will be reimbursed for the game...but I wonder if all the metrodome employees will get some kind of stipend...like a vacation check or something. Seems to me those are the peeps who are most finacially dependant on the home games.
I wondered about that too and the loss of a game's income is probably significant for them. I hope they get something.
It's cool. The one time I was in London, the only British football fan I met was a Bengals fan, which seemed strange to me because he told me he had no connection to Cincinnati. He just liked the Bengals. In fact, he liked them so much that he flew to the U.S. every year to see a game in person!
Re: Brand-building in London
Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2013 1:28 pm
by The Breeze
Mothman wrote:I really like the idea of the Vikings conquering Britian, again.
It's cool that the team will be reimbursed for the game...but I wonder if all the metrodome employees will get some kind of stipend...like a vacation check or something. Seems to me those are the peeps who are most finacially dependant on the home games.
I wondered about that too and the loss of a game's income is probably significant for them. I hope they get something.
It's cool. The one time I was in London, the only British football fan I met was a Bengals fan, which seemed strange to me because he told me he had no connection to Cincinnati. He just liked the Bengals. In fact, he liked them so much that he flew to the U.S. every year to see a game in person!
I was there a decade or so ago. Didn't meet any NFL fans....but plenty of Rugby players.
It's funny what teams people wind up rooting for. I fell for the Vikings cause purple was my color and my grandmother had given me an 8track tape of Sheb Wooley. My favorite song on it was 'One eyed one horned flying purple people eater'......frustration, it seems, is part of my sports fan fate lol. At least I'm not the only one~
Re: Brand-building in London
Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2013 1:45 pm
by Hunter Morrow
I just hate that this was put as a home game on our schedule. Shouldn't this clearly have been given road game status for both us and the Steelers?
I mean, not only is this "home game" not in the same country, it isn't even in the same continent!
Re: Brand-building in London
Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2013 1:47 pm
by UKViking
I can't wait to go see them!
